Family: Creek County Rape Suspect Has Fourth Grade Mental Capacity

Eddie Joshua's family said their son has the mental capacity of a fourth grader. They said he couldn't understand enough to waive his rights and talk to officers.

Monday, July 7th 2014, 7:10 pm

By: News On 6


Creek County prosecutors charged a 24-year-old man with raping a 14-year-old girl. Sapulpa police said the man went into the girl's window, but she wasn't home.

Later, during questioning, he admitted he and the girl had a sexual relationship four times. Police said the teenage girl confirmed that, but, the suspect's family said that's only one side of the story.

Eddie Joshua's family said their son has the mental capacity of a fourth grader. They said he couldn't understand enough to waive his rights and talk to officers and they don't believe he committed the crimes.

Eddie was in special ed. classes in Coweta schools when he was younger and he participated in the Special Olympics, playing golf and other sports.

His family provided documentation that said his intellectual ability scores are in the very low range, especially when it comes to reading, understanding directions, understanding words, comprehension and more.

"He can't spend money like you and I could. As far as holding a job, he can't. He has to be hands on, needs somebody with him all the time," said Eddie's father, Randall Joshua.

His father said police arrested Eddie on June 5th, saying a six-year-old boy saw Eddie in their home.

An affidavit said Eddie waived his rights and confessed that he went in an unlocked window of the home to see a 14-year-old girl but left when her brother spotted him. They said he admitted he'd had sex with that girl three or four times in previous months.

"He says he didn't do it and I believe him," Randall Joshua said. "He might have a mind of a child, but I know he would not do something like this."

They said the girl is a troubled and has even appeared on the reality TV show "Scared Straight" and that she has been coming around Eddie and his friends recently. Plus, they said he has an alibi.

"He's got two witnesses who wrote statements that same night, like I did, stating where he was. They told officers he was with them the whole time," Randall said.

They don't believe Eddie could've understood his Miranda warnings, or had the ability to waive his rights.

One of Eddie's former teachers wrote a letter, saying in part, Eddie "had a difficult time handling being questioned and often tried to give the answer that was wanted instead of what really happened."

The affidavit said the victim told police Eddie likes little girls, especially when he drinks. She told officers twice she and Eddie had sex near a pond in the neighborhood and the other couple of times, it happened in her yard.

His next court appearance is July 9th. His family said he's being threatened in the jail and they just want him home.

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